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cassius2001 Author

Level 1

1 points

toxic smell?

I've been an adamant mac fan for the last year or so, so was very dissapointed when the macbook pro I bought last year suffered the "toxic smell" that many on the internet seem to be complaining of. I myself have experienced headaches and slight nausea from it.

I hastily returned that and bought a macbook air a few weeks later. This also, was a huge headache mongerer, and at times, the smell was so pungent I felt like puking. I tried everything including reapplying thermal paste on the cpu (and thus voiding my warranty!). I found a temporary solution with SMC fan control. By putting the settings to max, the mba would heat up slower, and not stink so much. (chemicals are going to offgas if the thing gets that freakin hot!).

Now... I love macs, and find the software to be great, but this is obviously a serious problem. Wasn't it a few weeks ago that a scientist in france released a report that mbps were releasing the highly toxic benzene??

I am considering buying a macbook pro, but am not going near one if I have the same problem. Lately, I've had the most intense headaches from the use of this Air, which dissappear when i dont use it for week long periods.

So... does the new macbook smell? what about the "new mac smell"? I'm hope apple have had enough attention directed towards this to do something about it by now....

macbook air 1.8, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 20, 2008 4:29 AM

26 replies

Macaby

Level 3

923 points

Oct 29, 2008 9:57 PM in response to anilsudhakaran

anilsudhakaran wrote:
I think you are delusional. You need to visit a Shrink real soon, before your head explodes.

I think the above comment might be considered rude to most people. Personally, I have a very bad sense of smell (perhaps 35 years of smoking might have something to do with it. I quit Oct 31, 1995 and have been butt free since).

My wife has a sense of smell that can be quite irritating at times. She can stick her head in the front door and tell whether I had a beer recently. Tonight we had a rare red meat day and afterwards, she said the place smelled like a steak house. Nothing bad with that unless you're a vegan. However, I didn't smell a thing. Yes, I can smell stuff, but my nose has to be close. I often joke about hiring my wife out as a bloodhound.

So, I can see why a rare individual might smell something that 99% of us can't. You should feel sorry for such a person when you imagine all the flatus aromas floating around that they have to deal with in public. My wife is always asking me if I "DID" something and I can honestly say most of the time I didn't.

cassius2001 Author

Level 1

1 points

Oct 31, 2008 6:46 AM in response to Macaby

I have a relatively acute sense of smell, that is true. btw, the smell coming out of the macbook is also akin to that of scotch tape (at least the uk brand). If you don't believe me, smell for yourself!

Oct 31, 2008 8:54 AM in response to cassius2001

I love a a new Mac smell. When you first power it up it smells like a new car. Then over time the smell goes away, just like a new car.

Then all you smell is the the bacteria, dirt, grime, etc. that takes over. That is unless you keep your computer immaculate. I routinely wipe my keyboard down with Clorox wipes. At least I know I won't catch a cold or get an infection using it.

This post of course is a lot of joking. Reading about the construction and the push by Apple to get toxins out of their computers, I don't see how any toxic smells are escaping the new Macbooks or Macbook Pro's.

w7ox

Level 4

2,407 points

Oct 31, 2008 11:22 AM in response to Peter K. Grether

Peter K. Grether wrote:
Reading about the construction and the push by Apple to get toxins out of their computers, I don't see how any toxic smells are escaping the new Macbooks or Macbook Pro's.

That's my take. And this MacBook Al runs so much cooler than my old black MacBook. It's hardly warm anywhere on its bottom side vs. some really hot spots with the old one.

Of course here in the L.A. area we have enough junk in the air that a MacBook is the least of my worries 🙂

Phil

mp3fan

Level 1

60 points

Oct 31, 2008 5:22 PM in response to cassius2001

cassius2001 wrote:
I have a relatively acute sense of smell, that is true. btw, the smell coming out of the macbook is also akin to that of scotch tape (at least the uk brand). If you don't believe me, smell for yourself!

If I had even the slightest suspicion that toxic fumes were emanating from my laptop I'd return it immediately and have no further dealings with the company involved.

Anyway, I don't see how anyone here can help you because it's all just hearsay. Some people smell something, some don't, some get sick, others are fine. How will this make you come to any sort of conclusion?

Mac-Medic

Level 6

17,301 points

Nov 1, 2008 1:00 AM in response to cassius2001

I believe all electronic products give off some level of toxic fumes--especially when they are new. I serviced electronic equipment (mainly televisions) for over 30 years and have a chronic lung condition now that was mainly caused by my work environment. All that "new smell" I was inhaling when servicing new sets was damaging my lungs.

WE have a factory in town that makes transformers for consumer electronics. Most everyone I know that worked there for years has cancer now or died from it already.

That being said, my new MBP does not have much of a "new smell" coming out of it. The logic boards are getting smaller with less components, so that may be helping.

Dave M.
MacOSG Founder/Ambassador  An Apple User Group  iTunes: MacOSG Podcast
Creator of 'Mac611 - Mobile Mac Support' (designed exclusively for an iPhone/iPod touch)

cassius2001 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 5, 2008 9:07 PM in response to Mac-Medic

That is rather shocking re: factory workers.

I just got a new Sony Vaio VGN-SR13GN and the smell from that, the first few days was a huge headache inducer. I left it running for a few days, and the small has largely died down as has the headaches, but if I use it a fair bit for more than 40 mins it still comes back.

Someone should really start doing studies on this issues.

Mac-Medic

Level 6

17,301 points

Nov 5, 2008 9:38 PM in response to cassius2001

I feel for all those people that live, or have lived, in those FEMA mobile home the government set up down south after Katrina. They are full of toxic formaldehydes from the cheap materials they used to build them. Families have developed neurological and breathing problems. Even the worker that built them in the factory are sick.

Dave M.
MacOSG Founder/Ambassador  An Apple User Group  iTunes: MacOSG Podcast
Creator of 'Mac611 - Mobile Mac Support' (designed exclusively for an iPhone/iPod touch)

NessyUK

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2008 2:46 PM in response to cassius2001

Interestingly I have a 2008 MBP which I got in March. It's been excellent but this last week has started to emit a really nasty smell. I work on my machine for up-to 12 hours a day (with breaks) but the smell is what I would describe as 'car exhaust'. To be precise, I shut the window to my office because I honestly thought it was that at first. It got worse and then when I went out one evening and took my mac the smell came with me and it was then I realised it was my Mac.

It's subtle though - one that someone sitting down to my machine would probably not notice. However, after a few hours sat at work it really affects me to the point of feeling sick, lethargic and generally feel crap. I then have the 'smell' in my nose/throat for a couple of hours after use. I feel ok in the morning after a sleep.

I am taking it into my local Apple store tomorrow to see what they suggest as I simply cant work like this and am also concerned about my health if I continue to use it. I love my mac but am struggling with this smell......

cassius2001 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 16, 2008 4:12 PM in response to NessyUK

so what did the apple store say?

Nov 16, 2008 6:05 PM in response to cassius2001

At the most I can smell an ozone like odor coming from the exhaust port, buy that is about only smell I ever get from my consumer electronics that are ROHC certified. I can compare it to that of my ionic pro.

toxic smell?